Audion-bulb socket



A. MORTON AUDION BULB SOCKET Nov. 22, 1927.

Filed Dec. 13, 1924 grammes Nov. 22, 1927.

1,649,969 PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER MORTON, 0F GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY AUDION-IBU-LB sooner.

I Application filed December 13, 1924. Serial No. 755,739.

This invention relates to improvements in I audion bulb sockets .and particularly to a means for controlling the amount that the base of a bulb may be inserted into a socket,

in order to prevent distortion or bending or I thecontact mounted on the socket, which would affect the efficient electrical contact of said contacts on the sockets with the contact studs on the base of the lamp. t

I An object of the invention resides in providing means adapted for attachment to molded sockets for extending into the path of movement of the base of the lamp or the pins thereon, as the base is inserted into the I sockets, in order to prevent the lamp base from being inserted into the socket a distance suflicientto cause the ends of said'base to bend the spring contacts carried by the sockets, which would affect the electrical connection between the pins on the base and the spring contacts of the sockets, and the eflicient operation of the radio'circuit connected therewith.

The invention includes otheriobjects and improvements in the details of construction and the manner of carryingout the'inven 'tion, which is more particularly pointed out in the following detailed description, and in the claim directed to preferred forms of 0 the invention, ,it being understood, however,

that various changes in the specificdetails of construction and arrangement of these parts -may be made, within the scope of the invention as described and claimed herein. In the drawing, forming apart of this application Figure 1 is a plan view of a socket, used in connection with -radio sets, for receiving and mounting an audion bulb to which the present in'ventionis applied, I I

4 Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure '1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 33 ofFigure 2, substantially at 0 right angles tothe section'shown inFigure 2.

, Figure 4 is a detail perspective view on an enlarged scale, of the stop member illustrated in Figure 2.

' Figure .5 is a vertical sectional ,view,

through a portion of a socket,'similar to Figure 3, showing a slightly different form of stop member.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view on an enlarged scale,- 4 in Figure 5. Figure 7 of the stopmember shown is a vertical sectional view,

the contact pins on through a bulb socket and one of the contact terminals thereof, showing still another form of stop member, secured to the socket by the binding post or wire terminal for one of the spring contacts; Figure 8 is a detail enlarged perspective View, of the stop member shown in Figure 7. The socket is indicated generally at 1, andis preferably formed of molded material, preferably a form of suitable insulating material, having the cylindrical portion 2, at one end of which is provided an outwardly extending flange 3, forming the base of the socket, while the opposite end is formed with an inwardly extending flange 4, formed with a pin slot 5. The pin slot is to permit the passage of the reduced positioning pin on the side of the lamp base,

' and preferably is formed with longitudinally extending and inwardly directed guide ribs 7 molded in the tubular portions, the inner ends of which terminate with the inner periphery of the flange 4, so that the base of anaudion bulb is properly guided into the tubular portion of the socket, the pin projecting from the side of the base of the lamp or bulb entering the slot 5, which is formed in the flange 4 between a pair of adjaceiit,

uide ribs 7 as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. It will thus be seen that the guide ribs 7 form" a means-for limiting the rotative movement of the lamp base, after the same is positioned in the socket, so that the pin may be received in the seat portion 8 in which it is held by the natural resiliency of the spring them'to engage the endsiofthe contact pins on the bulb socket, when the positioning pin is seated inthe recess 8, so that the circuit as illustrated in Figure 2, to the main portion of the stop member 9, which serves to receive and limit the positioning pin carried on the base of the audion bulb, for limiting the distance the base may be inserted into the socket. The lower end of this stop member 9 is provided with another lateral extension 11 in opposite directions to the extension 10, which is formedwith an opening 12, for receiving a suitable screw member 13, adapted to secure the stop member to the base flange3, of the socket. This stop member,

as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, is positioned in the tubular portion, in longitudinal alignment with the slot 5, and is secured to the base flange 3, intermediate the point at which the contact springs 6 are secured thereto by the binding post-.14.

If desired, a stop member as shown at 15 in Figures 5 and 6, may be provided, having a lateral extension at one end, as indicated at 16, provided with an opening 17 for receiving vthe screw 17 which is adapted to secure the stop member to the base flange 3' 'ofthe socket, so that the laterally extended end portion 18 "directed in anv opposite direction to the lateral extension 16 is positioned in the path of movement of the end of the base portion of a bulb, and which, when secured in position, as shown in Figure 5, is adapted to limit the amount the lamp base may be inserted into the socket for preventing the bending of the contact springs in the socket,

' while atthe same time permitting a sufiicient insertion so that the base may be rotated, for.

seating the positioning pin carried by the base in the recess provided therefor, so that the lamp isfproperly positioned with the contact pins in contact with the proper r spring contacts carried by the bulb sockets.

This ma also be accomplished by the use of an vangu ar member 19, having one portion of said lamps, into the sockets.

case, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the portion 20 provided with an opening 21, adapted to receive the usual binding post screws 22, so that the other end-of said angular member, indicated at 23, willfextend into the socket in a mannersimi-lar to the lateral projection 18 of the stop member 15, for engaging the end of the'lamp base, to limit the'insertio'n f In this 1 20 of the angular. stop member is superposed on one of the spring contacts, as illustrated in Figure 7 so that'an additional screw for mounting the stop member on the lamp socket is unnecessary;

' From the above describtion, it should thus I.

be seen that an exceedingly simple form of stop member has been provided for bulb sockets, adapted to limit the insertion of the lamp base into the socket, in order to prevent the distortion or bendingof the spring contacts to such a degree as toinjure the efli cient electrical connectionbetween said spring contact and the contact pins on the lamp base, which would otherwise 0ccur,.if

the lamp base would be. permitted to beinsorted into the portion 2 of the socketa greater distance than necessary, for the turnmg movement to seat the positioning p n on the socket or notch 8 formed in the tubular portion 2. I i

What is claimed is: A bulb socket comprising a molded body formedwith a cylindrical portion having an inwardly extendmg annular flange at one end provided with-a pin slot, a plurality of guide ribs projecting inwardly 1n said cylindrical portion at opposite sides of said pin slot-in spaced parallel relation, resilient contact members mounted on the base and projecting into the cylindrical port-ion in a plane lateral to the'axis of-said cylindrical portion, and a stop member secured to said body, and projecting in line with the slot along the inside of said cylindrical'portion between a pair of said ribs, said ribs cooperating to retain said stop member in alinement with the slot,-

said stop inember being formed and positionedin said socket for limiting the insertion of. a bulb base in the socket for preventing distortion of said contacts beyond their limit of flexibility.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALEXANDER Moaron. I 

